Giving Voice to Depression

A teen whose depression and suicidal thoughts were so pervasive that she did not know if she would live past the age of 16, is now a social worker helping others. She shares about her family's inability to speak openly about mental-health challenges before she did, and how her grandmother's disclosure of the generations-long family history of depression allowed her to have hope for a future.https://recovery.com/https://givingvoicetodepression.com/Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/VoiceDepressionTerry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/

This episode is a review of the past 11 episodes we've produced. It's also an opportunity to sample Giving Voice to Depression, so you can see that while the focus is the same (depression) the tone of each episode is as different as the guests are. Depression affects us all differently. And the ways we describe and manage it can also differ. But, somehow, knowing that others understand the weight of the condition helps us believe we're not alone and that we are understood.There is power in shared stories. And in just 22 minutes, you'll get a taste of several guests' stories and learn about a 3-day rule for depression, how holding space and hope for a new treatment can be life-saving, how a "silly selfie challenge" helped one guest break the negative cycle she was stuck in, and how the suicide of a teenage son started a mother on a journey of helping other families avoid her pain.https://recovery.com/https://givingvoicetodepression.com/Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/VoiceDepressionTerry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/

The "silly selfie" accompanying this episode is actually an example of one friend helping another through a really dark time. The spectrum of ways to support someone struggling with their mental health is wide, varying from acknowledging a stranger you pass (who knows when they last felt "seen,") to climbing into the darkest darkness with a friend who is suicidal. And sometimes, it's saying "get out of bed, go get yourself your favorite coffee drink and send me a silly selfie. I'll send one back."It was a social media post about that challenge that prompted this interview and episode.Article referenced in episode: Suicide Prevention Doesn't Have to Be a Huge, Scary Thing: https://bit.ly/3ixsikyhttps://recovery.com/https://givingvoicetodepression.com/Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/VoiceDepressionTerry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/

The factors that impact our mental health are varied, intertwined and sometimes difficult to distinguish.Other times they are clear as day.When living conditions are unhealthy or unsafe or when mental-healthcare is inadequate, unaffordable or inaccessible, the goal of recovery can seem unobtainable.In the third of a four-part series on the Intersectionality of Race, Trauma and Mental Health, we look at the role of treatment trauma. Our guest, Dr. Warren Braden says the best way to deal with a system that is not working (or is not designed to work for certain people) is to avoid it and to develop other avenues of self-care and recovery.Resources provided by Dr. Braden:borislhensonfoundation.org/This foundation was created by Taraji Henson the eradicate the stigma around mental health issues that affect the Black community.www.guilford.com/books/Black-Fami…593853464/authorThis book by Dr. Franklin is an excellent resource for clients and therapists.The link for information about the crisis centers in Milwaukee:www.mhawisconsin.org/DirectorySearc…ListingId=1486www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline is the link to the national hotline for depressionAnd finally, anyone who is interested in communicating with Dr. Braden can email him at luminousclinicalservicesllc@gmail.com.https://recovery.com/https://givingvoicetodepression.com/Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/VoiceDepressionTerry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/

The world loves guarantees. We want to be assured that if A, then B.It comforts us and soothes our souls to believe in truths we can rely upon. But suicide prevention doesn't work like that. Knowing the signs and risk factors is a huge step. Being with someone and listening non-judgmentally can work wonders. But medications, therapy, doctors, hospitalizations and a loving family, cannot always protect against depression's despair. It's a Tragic Truth that just weeks after the death of her 18-year-old son to suicide, Patty is willing to discuss, to try to spare another family the pain hers is experiencing.*UPDATE: On what would have been her son's 21st birthday, Patty is encouraging random acts of kindness in his memory. Please post about yours with with hashtags #kujawastrong and #mentalhealthmattershttps://recovery.com/https://givingvoicetodepression.com/Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/VoiceDepressionTerry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/

The mother of a teenager who recently died by suicide reaches out to other struggling teens to say emotions are hard and it's okay to need help managing them. The more honest you are about what you're going through, the more effective your treatment, therapy or other help can be. And if it's a friend who is struggling, tell someone. Depression lies. But it's our responsibility to tell the truth about what's going on. It could literally save a life.*UPDATE: In her son's memory, on what would have been his 21st birthday, Patty is asking listeners to perform a random act of kindness and to post about it on social media using the hashtags #mentalhealthmatters and #kujawastrong. Let's show each other that there is kindness and caring in the world.https://recovery.com/https://givingvoicetodepression.com/Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/VoiceDepressionTerry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/

He had studied psychology, been previously treated for depressive episodes and done exhaustive online research trying to understand what was happening in his mind and body.The pieces did not come together until he heard other people with depression talking about their experiences of the illness. Then he realized the darkness was not his alone. Nor was it a personal failing or weakness.Depression is common and treatable, and talking openly about it brings light to our own, and others darkness. Please take 22 minutes to listen to John's story. And share it if you think someone else might benefit from his hard-earned understanding.https://recovery.com/https://givingvoicetodepression.com/Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/VoiceDepressionTerry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/

He'd been treated on and off for the illness over the years. But he certainly didn't consider himself Someone With Depression. That, according to his background, would be a weakness and an unacceptable chink in his masculine armor. But during the pandemic, already reeling from the end of a relationship and sick/quarantining with Covid, John hit new lows. Concerned for his life, he began to review it, and realized he not only has depression, but he's had it for as long as he can remember.Links to ACEs test: https://developingchild.harvard.edu/media-coverage/take-the-ace-quiz-and-learn-what-it-does-and-doesnt-mean/https://www.naadac.org/assets/2416/michael_bricker_acesassessment_ac16_ho.pdfhttps://recovery.com/https://givingvoicetodepression.com/Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/VoiceDepressionTerry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/

Are you able to notice the changes in your mood, energy, outlook, etc. that happen before or at the beginning of your depressive episodes? Do you consider those warning signs an opportunity to better manage your mental health?In the second part of our conversation with Matt Zinman, he tells us about a 3-Day Rule that really works for him. He also shares other mental-health management tools he's created and shares. (links below)https://mattzinman.com/https://recovery.com/https://givingvoicetodepression.com/Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/VoiceDepressionTerry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/

This week's guest, Matt Zinman, has a unique and deep understanding of life with a mental-health challenge. He not only had his own depression, but was impacted by other members of his family who lived with their own. In the first of a 2-part interview, Matt shares about his mental-health journey. Next week, he'll share some fabulous tools and self-care techniques he's learned along the way.https://mattzinman.com/https://recovery.com/https://givingvoicetodepression.com/Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/VoiceDepressionTerry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/